# NTSB LAX83LVM01: Bell 47G2, N5159B, 5nm East Of Sal, CA, October 10, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: October 10, 1982, 06:55 local (13:55 UTC)
- Place: 5nm East Of Sal, CA
- Coordinates: 36.640979, -121.619934 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6410&lon=-121.6199&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 10, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69661
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83LVM01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69661/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LVM01

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - rotor system,main rotor blade - overload
  - rotor system,tail rotor blade - overload

## Analysis

AFTER TAKEOFF, DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT, THE PILOT FELT A SUDDEN JOLT AND THE ENGINE RPM REVVED THEN DECAYED VERY RAPIDLY. THE PILOT MADE A HARD LANDING AND THE MAIN ROTOR SEVERED THE TAIL ROTOR. THE AIRCRAFT WAS WITHIN THE WEIGHT AND BALANCE LIMITATIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5159B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5159B-1984-06-15), registration cancelled 1984-06-15, S/N 1995 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G2
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-2) (registry code 1181008) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1995
- Airframe hours: 9668
- Engines: LYCOMING O-435-23C-R 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Wayne D. Handley, Crop Flight,
- Registered owner: Sean D. Tucker
- Departed: 5NM EAST OF SAL, CA
- Destination: 5NM EAST OF SAL, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 3,644 total, 1,356 in this make and model, 3,431 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 135° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Temperature: 122 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19821010052019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821010052019A), Oct 10, 1982: Bell 47G2, Salinas, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot felt jolt during lift off, then decaying rotor RPM. Crash occurred during autorotation.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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